Half of Americans now support abolishing ICE, compared with just 39% who oppose eliminating the agency, according to a new YouGov poll.
Why it matters: It's the first time in YouGov's polling history that support for abolishing ICE has reached 50%, capping a steady rise since January amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
- While Democrats have largely supported abolishing ICE in 2026 polling, this survey also marks a new high for Independents, with 52% backing the idea.
- A majority of Republicans (68%) still oppose abolishing ICE, but in another record-high finding, 23% now say they support eliminating the agency.
Zoom in: Even among Americans who don't favor abolishing ICE, there's broad support for restricting federal agents' powers.
- Three-quarters of Americans say ICE officers should be required to wear uniforms identifying them as agency personnel, while just 14% disagree.
- Large majorities across party lines support uniform requirements — 92% of Democrats, 57% of Republicans and 77% of Independents.
- Most Americans (59%) say ICE agents shouldn't be allowed to wear masks that cover their faces, including 87% of Democrats and 68% of Independents.
Yes, but: Republicans are more supportive of agents wearing face coverings, with 65% saying they should be allowed to hide their faces, compared with 20% who disagree.
Go deeper: Americans' confidence in ICE plummets after Minneapolis shootings
Methodology: This online survey was conducted among 1,515 U.S. adults, Feb. 27 to March 2. Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3.4%.
